KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- On any given morning at spring camp, Astros reliever Pat Neshek can be spotted at his locker signing dozens of baseball cards with a discarded stack of envelopes at his feet. He rips them open, scribbles his name on each card and sends them back to where they came from.

Neshek, the sidearm reliever in his first season with the Astros, is an avid sports memorabilia collector who appeases other collectors and fans interested in getting his signature by returning any cards they send him -- as long as they include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Astros have incorporated the shift into team fundamentals this spring in an effort to make sure their fielders grow more comfortable fielding balls and throwing to bases from areas on the field that aren't typical of their position.

No team utilized the shift more last season than the Astros, who see themselves at the forefront of analytics. Simply put, the best defense is often positioning the infielders and outfielders where the hitter is most likely to hit the ball, tradition be darned.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Astros manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday it's likely the club will open the season with a seven-man bullpen, which is not a surprise. It's possible they'll use one of those spots on a long reliever, which means Alex White, Samuel Deduno, Jake Buchanan, Dan Straily, Brad Peacock and Asher Wojciechowski will be considered for the bullpen as well as the fifth spot in the rotation. Whoever doesn't make the club could potentially be stretched out for the Triple-A rotation.

Astros reliever spent time working on sailboats before joining Braves' organization

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The two players the Astros received from the Braves in a January trade that sent three prospects to Atlanta have done some soul-searching away from the game -- slugger Evan Gattis working odd jobs that range from ski lift operator to janitor, and pitcher James Hoyt working on sailboats.

Both eventually got back to baseball, and Gattis established himself as a power threat by hitting 43 homers during the past two years with the Braves. Hoyt, a 28-year-old right-hander who stands at 6-foot-5, is still trying to reach the big leagues, but the fact that he's this close is a credit to his resolve.

Berkman first of former Astros to lend hand at camp

Hinch has Bagwell, Biggio scheduled to help young Houston team

Lance Berkman talks about coming to Astros camp and working with first baseman as a guest instructor after playing 12 seasons in Houston

By Barry M. Bloom
/
MLB.com |

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Astros have a long line of former players coming into training camp this spring at the urging of new manager A.J. Hinch. And first up on Monday was first baseman Lance Berkman, who played the bulk of his 15 seasons in Houston.

"This is exciting. It's awesome being back down here," said Berkman, who played for the Astros from his rookie season of 1999 until he was traded to the Yankees on July 31, 2010. "It's good to be back in the Astros uniform."

Hinch lines up starters for first 5 spring games

McHugh, Oberholtzer, Keuchel, Feldman and Straily set to start

A.J. Hinch discusses the status of Roberto Hernandez at Astros camp and who is expected to start the team's first Spring Training game

By Barry M. Bloom
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MLB.com |

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Astros manager A.J. Hinch set up his starting pitching for the upcoming week of Grapefruit League games, confirming that right-hander Collin McHugh will pitch the opener on Thursday against the Phillies at Osceola County Stadium.

McHugh will be followed by left-hander Brett Oberholtzer against the Cardinals at Jupiter, Fla., on Friday, and left-hander Dallas Keuchel is slated to go back at home against the Yankees on Saturday. In Sunday's split-squad, it's Scott Feldman at Osceola against the Braves and Dan Straily against the Tigers in Lakeland.

McHugh, Keuchel proving building blocks of success

A.J. Hinch discusses the status of Roberto Hernandez at Astros camp and who is expected to start the team's first Spring Training game

By Richard Justice
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MLB.com |

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Houston Astros say it started with the two pitchers, Collin McHugh and Dallas Keuchel. They're the ones who deserve the credit for their success, because they were the ones who embraced change and executed every single pitch.

But it was more than that. It was a confirmation of how the Astros are doing business these days. It was the power of analytics identifying two pitchers with special gifts, and then offering a blueprint for success. It was also the work of a couple of really smart and innovative pitching gurus.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Evan Gattis has been sitting in on catchers meetings this spring, but don't expect to see the new Astros slugger behind the plate this season.

Gattis, acquired in a trade with the Braves on Jan. 14, has been working out exclusively in left field this spring, though he could wind up getting some reps at first base later. Gattis has ordered a first baseman's glove in preparation.

Pair of Matt Duffys creates double trouble

Fans, card makers among those to confuse Astros prospect with Giants infielder of same name

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By Brian McTaggart
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MLB.com |

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- When Matt Duffy made his Major League debut for the Giants last Aug. 1, a certain Astros prospect started receiving congratulatory messages from a couple of his distant relatives. There was no confusion on his part, though. He knew exactly what was up.

Matthew Michael Duffy -- Matt Duffy -- was set to make his debut for the Giants, which meant Astros prospect Matthew Edward Duffy -- also known as Matt Duffy -- was hearing about it. It wasn't the first time the two baseball players had been confused, and it won't be the last.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- About 30 of the Astros' most promising prospects, including several members of the 2014 Draft class, reported to the Minor League complex at Osceola County Stadium on Sunday morning in advance of a mini-camp that begins Monday.

The majority of the players are pitchers, which gives them a month to get innings under their belts before the start of the Minor League seasons. Pitchers who have been invited include right-handers Brock Dykxhorn, Adrian Houser, Lance McCullers and Daniel Mengden and left-handers Kent Emanuel, Josh Hader and Tommy Shirley. Other players invited are catcher Brian Holberton, infielders J.D. Davis and A.J. Reed and outfielder Derek Fisher.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Right-hander Asher Wojciechowski may have been one of the most excited players to hit Astros camp this year, for no other reason than he was finally healthy after missing all of last year's camp with a strained right lat muscle.

Wojciechowski, 26, suffered the injury throwing in the bullpen prior to Spring Training, and he wound up opening the season on the disabled list. He started for Triple-A Oklahoma City on May 21 and strained a forearm flexor and missed nearly a month.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Each at-bat weighed heavily on his mind, and each failure only led to more disappointment and doubt. Nothing seemed to come easy last year for Jon Singleton, whose long-awaited Major League debut didn't come close to the big numbers he'd posted in the Minors.

The Astros thought enough of Singleton as a prospect to sign him to a five-year, $10 million deal before he even stepped foot on a Major League field, and then watched the first baseman hit .168 with 13 homers, 44 RBIs and 134 strikeouts in 310 at-bats in his first 95 games in 2014.

Astros lefty utilizing third pitch to fool hitters

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Lefty Kevin Chapman understands the importance of having a third pitch, which is why he plans to incorporate his changeup more this year. He started throwing the pitch when he was called back to the big leagues last year and saw good results.

Chapman, a fastball-slider pitcher, pitched in 21 games over three stints in Houston last year, posting a 2.30 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP in his final 15 2/3 innings following his Aug. 15 callup to the Majors. In 5 2/3 innings with the Astros over his first two stints, he had an 11.12 ERA.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Andrew Aplin dresses at a locker inside the clubhouse at Osceola County Stadium that's nearly in the shower. Joe Sclafani's locker is in a corner right next to fellow prospect Matt Duffy, making it hard for either player to get comfortable.

Despite the less-than-favorable locker assignments, none of the prospects who are in Major League camp for the first time are complaining. They're keeping their heads down, staying quiet and watching and learning as much as they can without getting in the way.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Steady morning rains soaked the back fields at Osceola County Stadium on Saturday and forced the Astros to work inside the batting cages.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch said the rain day wasn't necessarily a bad thing, considering no pitchers were scheduled to throw live batting practice. The hitters were able to take swings in the cage, and the pitchers were able to play catch under a roof as well.

Pettis teaching young Astros basics of baserunning, outfield

Young Astros players George Springer, Jon Singleton, Carlos Correa and Mark Appel talk about their early experience in 2015 Spring Training

By Jamal Collier
/
MLB.com |

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Astros manager A.J. Hinch has made it a point to focus on the team's coach-to-player ratio during drills this Spring Training, trying to establish the norm of one coach to two players at a time.

Third-base coach Gary Pettis has been one of the leading teachers on the staff, spending time with both the outfielders and on baserunning drills.

Jamal Collier is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jamalcollier. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Hernandez's delay in reporting may leave him behind

Astros unsure when Dominican rotation candidate will be in camp

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Luhnow, Hinch on Hernandez 0:41

Jeff Luhnow and A.J. Hinch on Roberto Hernandez's visa issues that are delaying his arrival to Spring Training

By Jamal Collier
/
MLB.com |

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Two large brown boxes sit on the chair in front of Roberto Hernandez's locker. Three envelopes have been placed on top of the boxes, along with a memo to the players from Thursday morning.

A bag of golf clubs sits in front of two jerseys and four pairs of pants -- two gray, two white -- still neatly draped from a hanger -- and all appear to be untouched. Another day at Astros camp passed and Hernandez, delayed because of issues acquiring a work visa, still has not reported to camp.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- With the additions of Evan Gattis, Colby Rasmus, Jed Lowrie and Luis Valbuena, the Astros appear poised to have their deepest lineup in years with nine bats that are capable of driving in at least 50 runs, including several with legit power potential.

One thing manager A.J. Hinch doesn't want, however, is a team that relies too much on the long ball, which has been the case in the last few years. Home runs are nice, but sustaining rallies and moving runners are important as well.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Astros welcomed a guest into the clubhouse at Osceola County Stadium on Thursday morning that more than a few players hoped would have just stayed away.

Before taking the field for the morning work, some players posed for photos with Sunshine, an 11-foot albino Burmese python from nearby attraction Gatorland. Dallas Keuchel, Chad Qualls and Jed Lowrie were among those to pose with the reptile

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Despite being a No. 1 overall pick, right-hander Mark Appel is participating in the same rituals the Astros' other young players are doing this spring. Young players are getting singled out each morning so the veterans can find out more about them.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch has given Appel the assignment of making a presentation about every player on the team, which means Appel has spent the past few mornings interviewing his teammates and taking notes in a small notebook.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- One of the most challenging days of Spring Training for the hitters is when they step into the box for the first time against the pitchers, who have been in camp for nearly a week and had thrown two bullpen sessions prior to Thursday.

Some Astros hitters used the chance to face live pitching for the first time to simply track the pitches and not swing, while others couldn't wait to take some cuts. The first and second throwing groups threw live batting practice Thursday.

Astros name architect for new Spring Training home

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Astros general counsel Giles Kibbe said Thursday the team, the Nationals and Palm Beach County have selected HKS Architect, led by Mo Stein, to design the new two-team Spring Training facility they hope to open in 2017.

HKS designed two of the premier facilities in the Cactus League -- Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Ariz., which is home to the D-backs and Rockies, and Camelback Ranch in Glendale, shared by the Dodgers and White Sox.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Astros finally hit the field for the first full-squad workout of Spring Training when the position players joined the pitchers and catchers Wednesday morning, but not before hearing from owner Jim Crane, general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch.

All three addressed the players, the field staff and some members of the front office prior to the start of workouts at Osceola County Stadium, laying out the expectations for the season while going over some details of how camp is going to be run.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Astros manager A.J. Hinch has said expectations are high this year, and general manager Jeff Luhnow is on the record as saying his team could finish 2015 with its first winning record since 2008.

Owner Jim Crane believes the roster additions made by Luhnow and his staff this winter have put the club in position to possibly make the playoffs for the first time since it reached the World Series a decade ago and for the first time in the American League.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- A crew from MLB Productions has been following Astros All-Star second baseman and 2014 American League batting champion Jose Altuve around for the last few months to gather footage for a documentary about him.

The movie was the idea of club owner Jim Crane, who wanted Altuve to get some publicity following a season in which he set a club record with 225 hits and led the AL with a .341 batting average and 56 stolen bases.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- One of the things top prospect Carlos Correa wants to work on this spring is sliding into bases, which he hasn't done since he broke his right ankle sliding into third while playing for Class A Advanced Lancaster last summer. It was an injury that ended his season.

"I want to work on everything, especially with my baserunning," Correa said. "Since I got hurt, I haven't run the bases. I want to work on that and get my confidence back. You want to hit here. It's the big leagues and you're facing the best pitchers in the game, and you want to go out there and get ready for the season."

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Before the Astros take the mound for their first bullpen sessions of the spring or step onto the field to run the bases for the first time, the club puts the players through a comprehensive medical evaluation to make sure they're in the best position to compete.

In addition to the routine medical physicals each player undergoes each spring, the Astros and Houston Methodist Hospital, their long-time health care provider, this year are introducing a new sports medicine assessment designed to help prevent injuries and speed up recovery time when players are banged up.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Astros manager A.J. Hinch is in the envious position of inheriting the Major League batting champion in Jose Altuve, who last year led the big leagues and set a club record with 225 hits while batting .341 to become the first Houston player to win a batting title.